The Labour Party in government will not simply be an alternative government; above all it will be a better government, Labour deputy leader Michael Falzon said in his speech at the opening session of the party’s annual general conference yesterday evening.

Dr Falzon briefed the Labour delegates about the five policies that the party has been working on by means of extensive consultation for more than a year-and-a-half.

Forming part of the foundations of the party’s electoral manifesto, the policies focus on five areas that in some way or another affect every citizen.

The policies, focusing on young people, equality between women and men, the family, conditions of employment and the elderly, are worthy of a leftist party, said Dr Falzon; they are five social documents that strengthen and revisit the Labour ideals.

“The documents will be crucial in the implementation of a change for the better that our country needs so much, and which a better Labour government, a government of the future, will provide,” stated Dr Falzon.

The Labour deputy leader pointed out that the Labour Party wants to be a government that will strengthen and help every sector and every individual, but the MLP in government will also ensure that those who are mostly in need will be the ones to receive the biggest boost.

Among its proposals to improve the lives of young people, Labour is promising to reduce the burden being faced by young couples buying their first property.

“We are proposing a revision of the ceiling of the applicable taxes, as well as an increase in the ceiling of VAT reductions on expenses incurred for the first property,” explained Dr Falzon.

Among other proposals, Labour is also promising to create incentives for young people who would like to start up their own business. The MLP will also create a Lm1 million per year fund to be used by students who will need to study abroad when this is not possible locally.

With regard to equality between men and women, Dr Falzon mentioned the fact that Labour will pay mothers who take the 14-week maternity leave. The Labour Party is also promising to launch a screening programme to improve prevention of breast cancer.

Women who are self-employed will also be assisted, while the MLP will give a boost to the launch of the child care centre facilities system.

The family, which was the main focus of yesterday’s session of the party’s general conference, will be viewed from a wider angle, according to the MLP’s proposals.

“While the party’s values remain the same – Catholic values of a socialist, democratic party – we cannot ignore, or worse, without wanting to, penalise those who form part of unconventional families.

Labour’s main spokesperson for social solidarity Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who drew up the report, also insisted on the fact that the MLP, with courage and commitment, being the progressive party that it is, wants to take into consideration different families – those where the parents are separated, single-parent families and others whose needs may be different to those of conventional families.

“The Labour Party focuses on various aspects of the family, since we will never abdicate from the mission that has always been central to the party’s main effort – that of paying particular attention to families that require solidarity and assistance,” insisted Ms Coleiro Preca.

Dr Falzon delved into the contents of the other three documents in the speech he delivered to the audience yesterday evening. Speaking about conditions of employment, the Labour deputy leader highlighted the party’s commitment to change conditions of part-time employment in a comparable manner to those enjoyed by full-timers, including the right to a pension.

Among other proposals, he mentioned better conditions of employment for women who went back to work and that of creating a more dynamic Employment and Training Centre.

Speaking about the elderly, Dr Falzon said the MLP wants to improve the atmosphere at the St Vincent de Paule Residence for the Elderly. An interesting proposal among the ones mentioned was about a pilot project to create a night centre for the elderly.

The MLP’s document on the elderly is in fact the second one that will be focused upon in detail today. The other three documents will also be discussed during the rest of the Labour Party’s annual general conference that lasts until Sunday.